Commercial vacuum cleaners



March 9, 1965 Filed Nov. 30, 1961 J. J. KOWALEWSKI COMMERCIAL VACUUMCLEANERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JOHN J. Kowmfwsm HIS ATTORNEY March 9, 1965 J. J. KOWALEWSKI 3,172,743

COMMERCIAL VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Nov. 30. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR. JOHN J. Kownuwsm HIS ATTORNEY March 1965 J. J. KOWALEWSKI 3,172,743

COMMERCIAL VACUUM CLEANERS Fil ed Nov. 30, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet s IN V ENTOR. JoH/v J. Kownuwsm HIS AII'TURNEY United States Patent troluxCorporation, Old Greenwich, fionm, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov.30, 1961, Ser. No. 155,934 4 Claims. (Cl. 55214) My invention relates tovacuum cleaners and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner designed foruse in commerical establishments.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner havinga large dirt capacity, but which at the same time is easy to maneuver,even up and down stairs.

A further object is to provide a large disposable paper dust bag,together with means for removing a filled bag from the cleaner withoutdanger of rupturing it due to the weight of the large quantity of dirtaccumulated therein.

Another object of my invention is to minimize turbulence within thelarge dust bag so as to reduce the rate of clogging of the porousmaterial of the bag.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signal system for warningthe operator both against operation of the cleaner without a dust bagtherein and against operating the cleaner after the bag has becomefilled with dirt.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a relaceable filterhaving an extra large area.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings which form part of the specification and of which;

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of myinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View of a portion of the vacuum cleanershown in FIG. 1 and is taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the vacuum cleanershown in the preceding figures and is taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 3, but with the dust bag omitted;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner shown in thepreceding figures;

FIG. 6 is aview similar to FIG. 5, but on an enlarged scale and showingthe filter grille opened;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bag supporting member:

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of a filter latch;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the latch shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a wiring diagram of certain electrical connections embodiedin my inventon.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, reference character 1t)designates generally an elongated housing which is open at the top andclosed at the bottom by a wall 12. The rear wall 14 of the housing isformed with an opening 16 and an enclosure 18 is secured to the rearwall with its interior communicating with the interior of housice ing 10through opening 15. Enclosure 18 is provided with a bulkhead 20 in whichis mounted a motor-fan unit comprising an electric motor 22 driving acentrifugal fan 24, the latter being provided with an inlet opening 26,and the air being discharged through openings 27 in the motor frame.

Mounted outside the rear wall 14 is a hollow body 39, the lower part ofwhich surrounds the enclosure 18 and the upper part of which forms astorage bin 31 which is open at the top, as indicated at 32. The upperpart of enclosure 18 forms the bottom of bin 31.

The housing It), enclosure 18 and hollow body 30 aresupported in theposition shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 by means of a pair of casters 34secured to the bottom wall 12 near the forward corners thereof and apair of larger wheels 36 mounted on stub shafts 38 which are secured toa U-shaped tubular member 46, the legs of the U extending upwardly andbeing secured to the housing 10 as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The upperends of tubular member 4t) are reduced in diameter as shown at 42 sothat the legs of a U-shaped tubular handle 43 may be telescopedthereover and secured by bolts 44 which pass through both the tubularmember 44) and the tubular handle 43, as is shown particularly in FIG.7, and extend through openings in the housing 10 to have threadedengagement with clinch nuts 46 secured within the housing. These boltsas well as similar bolts 48 which pass through only the tubular memberth serve to secure the hollow body 3t) in place by clamping a flange 50thereof against the housing 10. For convenience in packing in a shippingcarton or the like, the handle 43 may be removed by removing the bolts44, the lower bolts 48 being sufiicient to retain the tubular member 4i?and the body 39 in place while the machine is packed.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper open end ofhousing 10 is provided with an annular ring 52 secured to the housing byspot welding or the like. An annular gasket 54 extends around the openend of housing it and has a portion 56 outside thereof which serves as abumper and a portion 58 which conforms to the upper surface of ring 52.An inner body 60 of perforated sheet metal or of other open workformation is supported from the ring 52 by means of an outwardlyextending flange 62 which overlies the portion 58 of the gasket 54 andis secured in place by means of bolts 64-.

Adapted to be removably supported on the upper edge of gasket 54 is anannular ring 66 having extending handle portions 67 to which ring issecured an open mesh bag or sack 68 of substantially the same length asthe chamber within the inner perforated body 60. The metal ring 66 andsack 68 are shown in FIG. 8 removed from the housing and they constitutemeans for supporting a paper dust bag having a bag portion 70 of porouspaper secured as by gluing to a cardboard disc 72. As is shown in FIG.1, the disc is adapted to seat in a recess 74 formed in ring 66. Thedisc is formed with a centrally located inlet opening 76. If the ring 66is not in place the disc '72 will not be properly supported, whichshould indicate to the operator that he has forgotten to place the ringin the cleaner. However, should he not notice that the disc isimproperly supported, he will not be able to start the motor, as will beexplained hereinafter.

A cover 78 is pivotally secured to housing by means of suitable hingesas and may be held in closed position by a spring latch 82. A gasket 83is carried by the cover and serves to hold the disc 72 properly seatedin the recess 74 and to hold the ring 66 in air-tight contact withgasket 54. Cover '78 is provided with a coupling member 84 to which maybe removably connected one end of a usual flexible suction hose whichleads to a suction nozzle. Coupling 34 communicates substantially atright angles with an inlet conduit 86, cross-sectional area of theconduit being substantially greater than that of the coupling. The lowerend of conduit 86 is of sufiicient length so as to extend through theinlet opening 76 in the dust bag disc 72 when the cover is closed, as isshown in FIG. 1. A gasket 87 surrounds conduit 86 so as to bear againstdisc 72 around the opening 76 for preventing leakage between the conduitand the disc.

Mounted within a hollow portion of cover 78 is a differential pressureactuated valve designated generally by reference character 88. Thisvalve is of the type shown in Patent No. 2,714,425, issued August 2,1955, to Allen P. Cawl, and includes a diaphragm which is subjected onone side to the pressure existing within inlet conduit 86, which iscommunicated thereto through a tube 90, and on the other side to theinlet pressure of the fan 24 which is communicated thereto through thehousing 10, an opening 92 formed in ring 66 and a tube 94 carried by thecover and having an end arranged to seal around the opening 92 when thecover is closed. As will be seen in FIG. 8, rim 66 is rectangular andconsequently may be placed in housing 10 in two different positions.Hence, it is provided with two openings 92 located diametrically withrespect to each other so that one of them will be in line with the tube94 regardless of the position of the rim. A plug 95 is carried by thecover 78 diametrically opposite the tube 94 so as to close the opening92 which is not in communication with the tube.

As is shown and explained in detail in the above-mentioned Patent No.2,714,425, displacement of the diaphragm by an increase in thedilference in pressures acting on opposite sides thereof serves to opena valve which establishes communication between the tube 94 and a tube96, the latter leading to a pressure actuated switch 98 mounted in thecover. A manually operable knob 99 is provided which is adjustable tovary the value of the pressure difference required to open the valve. Asis shown more particularly in the wiring diagram of FIG. 11, the switch98 is located in the circuit of a warning light 100 which is mounted inline with an opening in the top of the cover so as to be visible.

Also mounted in the cover is a two-position switch 102 which has anactuating plunger 104 extending therebelow. As is shown in FIG. 3, whena dust bag is in the machine and disc 72 thereof properly supported bythe ring 66, the plunger 104 contacts the cardboard disc 72 of the bagand is forced upwardly, while if the ring 66 is omitted so that disc 72is not supported, or no bag is in the cleaner, the plunger 104 is springbiased downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4. The switch 102 isconnected in the electric circuit of the cleaner as shown in FIG. 11.Here reference character 106 indicates a pair of conductors supplyingelectric current to the vacuum cleaner which are conveniently enclosedin a single flexible cord of sufficient length to be plugged into anysuitable outlet. One of the conductors 106 is connected directly to themotor 22, while the other conductor leads to a manually operable switch108 mounted in the cover. Switch 108 is connected electrically to themovable blade of switch 102 which may be moved by the plunger 104between the contacts 110 and 112. Contact 110 is connected by conductor114 with motor 22. The pressure actuated switch 98 and the warning light100 are connected in series across the conductor 114 and the conductor106 which is connected directly to the motor. A receptacle 116 forconnecting a power operated tool may also be connected in parallel withthe motor so as to be energized and deenergized therewith. A conductor118 is connected between the lower contact 112 of switch 102 and theconductor leading from the pressure switch 98 to the warning light 100.

It will thus be seen that it the manual switch 168 is closed when a dustbag is in proper position within the Vacuum cleaner, the disc 72 ofwhich lifts plunger 104 so as to close the circuit through the switch102 to contact 110, current will be supplied to the motor 22. One theother hand, if no dust bag is in the cleaner or if the bag disc 72 isimproperly supported due to the absence of ring 66, switch 102 will beclosed through the Contact 112 thereof so that the motor circuit will beopen but current will be supplied to the warning light 100.- Under theseconditions the motor will not operate but the warning light will be lit,thus indicating to the operator that while electric power is present inthe cleaner, the motor is not running because of the absence or impropersupport of the dust bag. On the other hand, during operation of thevacuum cleaner, when sufficient dirt accumulates with in the bag 70 soas to increase the pressure drop of the air passing therethrough above avalue determined by the setting of knob 99, the differential pressurediaphragm in member 88 will open the valve therein so as to communi=cate suction through the tube 96 to the pressure actuated switch 98,thus closing the latter. This does not stop the operation of the vacuumcleaner, but it does light the lamp 100, thus indicating to the operatorthat the bag" should be replaced. V H

In order to replace the bag the latch 82 is released and the cover 78pivoted to its open position. If the motor has not already been stoppedby opening the switch 108, opening of the cover will automatically stopthe motor, as switch 102 will be actuated when the plunger 104 is movedout of contact with the disc 72 of the dust bag. The handles 67 of metalrim 66 are then grasped and the ring lifted out of the housing 10, thusbringing with it the paper dust bag. Due to the large size of this bagthe weight of the dirt which it is ddfiable of holding might besuificient to tear the bag from the cardboard disc if it were attemptedto lift the bag by grasping this disc. However, the weight of the dirtis taken by the open mesh sack 68 which may be made of suitable clothhaving sufficient strength for this purpose, but porous enough so as notto become clogged by retaming any fine dust which may pass through thepaper bag. The holder comprising the rim 66 and sack 68 may be used totransport the paper bag to the trash re ceptacle or other place where itis desired to dispose of the paper bag and the latter may be removedfroiii the cloth bag holder by merely turning them upside down andpermitting the paper bag to slide out.

The lower part of the hollow body 30 is formed with an opening 120 inline with the motor 22, which opening is covered by a cup-shaped member122 which is formed with an opening 124 in the upper part thereof Thisopen ing communicates with a space formed by a recess irt the rear wallof body 30 and bounded by a filter 132 which is removably and pivotallysecured to the bottom of hollow body 30 by means of a separable hinge134. The filter comprises a large rectangular grille 136 which removablysupports a similarly shaped sheet or pad of suitable filter material138. As will be seen particularly in FIG. 1, the space 130 and filter132 extend well above the bottom of the storage bin 131 so as to provideample filtering surface.

The filter may be secured in the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5by means of a ring 140 which is pivot ally secured to a spring mountedmember 142 which is urged inwardly by means of a spring 144. The filtergrille 136 is formed with a slot 146 of sufiicient size to receive thering 140 when the latter is properly aligned therewith. However, whenthe ring is turned at right angles to the slot it obviously cannot passtherethrough and serves to hold the filter in closed position, and thering may be pivoted fiat against the filter grille, as is shown in FIGS.1, 9 and 10, so as to be out of the way.

In operation, the fan 24 serves to create a partial vacuum within thehousing 10 which is communicated through the porous paper of the dustbag 70 to the inlet 86 and the hose which is connected to the coupling84. If the suction noz'zle at the other end of the hose is passed over adusty surface the inrushing air will pick up the dust and dirt andconvey it into the dust bag. However, due to the sudden increase incross-sectional area between the coupling 84 and the inlet conduit 86,the velocity of the air and entering dirt is materially reduced at thispoint, thus permitting the dust and dirt to be introduced rather quietlyinto the dust bag rather than being blow violently thereinto. This tendsto cause the dirt to be deposited in the bottom of the bag and to fillthe latter from the bottom up, rather than being deposited in a verticallayer around the sides of the bag all the way between the top and thebottom. The fact that the upper part of the bag remains relatively freeof such layer materially reduces the resistance to the fiow of airthrough the dust bag as the bag is being filled and consequently thepressure drop does not increase to an objectionable value until the bagis substantiflly filled. When this does occur the signal light 160 isenergized as previously described.

Air discharged from the motor passes through the opening 124 into thechamber 13% from Where it may pass through the filter material 138 tothe atmosphere. This filter removes any fine dust which may have passedthrough the paper bag, as well as carbon dust generated by the wearingof the carbon brushes of the electric motor 22. The large area of thisfilter results in a minimum resistance to airflow while assuring amaximum life of the filter.

Due to the broad base support provided by the wheels and casters locatedat the four corners of the cleaner and the low center of gravityresulting from locating the motor at the bottom, the cleaner may bepulled around by the hose connected to the coupling 84 without danger oftipping. Also, the large wheels 36 make it possible to move the cleanerup or down stairs by grasping the handle 43 and pulling the cleaner upstep by step or letting it down in the same manner.

While I have shown and described one more or less specific embodiment ofmy invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for thepurpose of illustration only and the scope of my invention is not to belimited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing open at one end, means forsupporting said housing in a substantially vertical position with theopen end thereof at the top, a dust bag removably received in saidhousing and extending substantially the entire vertical extent thereof,a movable cover for closing said open end, said housing *eing formedwith an opening in the lower portion of one side thereof but above thelower end of said dust bag, means forming an enclosure extendinglaterally from the lower portion only of said one side of said housingaround said opening, a motor-fan unit mounted in said enclosure, wallmeans forming a storage bin disposed on the exterior of said one side ofsaid housing and above said enclosure, means forming a filter housingextending vertically along the outer side of said enclosure and along atleast a portion of said storage bin, said enclosure communicating withsaid filter housing, and a removable filter member forming an exteriorwall of said filter housing.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing open at one end, means forsupporting said housing in a substantially vertical position with saidopen end at the top, a dust bag supporting member within said housing,said member including a stiff rim supported by the upper end of saidhousing and an open mesh sack secured to said rim and extendingsubstantially the entire vertical length of said housing, a dustseparating member comprising a bag of porous paper joined at its upperend to a cardboard disc, said paper bag being removably received withinsaid bag supporting member with said disc supported on said stiii rimand removable therewith from said housing whereby the joint between saidpaper bag and disc is relieved of strain, a movable cover for closingsaid open end, means forming an enclosure communicating with' andextending laterally from one side of said housing adjacent to the lowerend thereof, a motor-fan unit mounted in said enclosure, an electriccircuit for said motor, a switch carried by said cover and connected insaid circuit, and an operating member for said switch biased to aposition opening said circuit, said operating member eing so located asto be displaced to a circuit closing position by contact with said discwhen said cover is closed with a dust separating member positioned insaid housing with said cardboard disc supported by the stifi rim of saidbag supporting member, said operating member being spaced from said ringso as to remain in open circuit position when said cover is closed withno dust separating member so positioned in said housing.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing open at one end, means forsupporting said housing in a substantially vertical position with saidopen end at the top, a dust bag supporting member within said housing,said member including a Sin? rim supported by the upper end of saidhousing and an open mesh sack secured to said rim and extendingsubstantially the entire vertical length of said housing, a dustseparating member comprising a bag of porous paper joined at its upperend to a cardboard disc, said paper bag being removably received withinsaid bag supporting member and removable therewith from said housingwhereby the joint between said paper bag and disc is relieved of strain,a movable cover for closing said open end, means forming an enclosurecommunicating with and extending laterally from one side of said housingadjacent to the lower end thereof, a motor-fan unit mounted in saidenclosure, a first electric circuit for said motor, signal means, asecond electric circuit for said signal means, a two position switchcarried by said cover and connected in both said circuits, and anoperating member for said switch biased to a position opening said firstcircuit and closing said second circuit, said operating member being solocated as to be displaced to a position closing said first circuit andopening said second circuit by contact with said disc when said cover isclosed with a dust separating member in said housing, said operatingmember being spaced from said rim so as to remain in the first-mentionedposition when said cover is closed with no dust separating member insaid housing.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, an elongated housing open at one end, means forsupporting said housing in a substantially vertical position with saidopen end at the top, a dust bag supporting member within said housing,said member including a stiff rim supported by the upper end of saidhousing and an open mesh sack secured to said rim and extendingsubstantially the entire Ventical length of said housing, a dustseparating member comprising a bag of porous paper joined at its upperend to a cardboard disc, said paper bag being removably received withinsaid bag supporting member and removable therewith from said housingwhereby the joint between said paper bag and disc is relieved of strain,a movable cover for closing said open end, means forming an enclosurecommunicating with and extending laterally from one side of said housingadjacent to the lower end thereof, a motor-fan unit mounted in saidenclosure, a first electric circuit for said motor, signal means, asecond electric circuit for said signal means, a two position switchcarried by said cover and connected in both said circuits, an operatingmember for said switch biased to a position opening said first circuitand closing said second circuit, said operating member being so locatedas to be displaced to a position closing said first circuit and openingsaid second circuit by References Cited in the file of this patentcontact with said disc when said cover is closed with a UNITED STATESPATENTS dust separating memb r in sa d housing, said operating 2,047,594Paine July 14, 1936 member being spaced from said run so as to remain in2 496 180 smith et a1 July 31 1950 the first-mentioned position whensaid cover is closed with 5 2583949 Kendrick Jan 1952 no dust separatingmember in said housing, and a pressure 2:621:757 Anderson Dec 1952responsive switch connected in said second circuit and 2,688,379Anderson Sept 1954 responsive to an increase in the pressure drop of airpass- 2 714 4 5 Cawl Aug. 2 19 55 ing through said dust separatingmember for closing said 10 2,911,0 2 Ferraris N0 3, 5

second circuit. 2,978,732 Hansen Apr. 11, 1961

1. IN A VACUUM CLEANER, AN ELONGATED HOUSING OPEN AT ONE END, MEANS FORSUPPORTING SAID HOUSING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION WITH THEOPEN END THEREOF AT THE TOP, A DUST BAG REMOVABLY RECEIVED IN SAIDHOUSING AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE VERTICAL EXTENT THEREOF,A MOVABLE COVER FOR CLOSING SAID OPEN END, SAID HOUSING BEING FORMEDWITH AN OPENING IN THE LOWER PORTION OF ONE SIDE THEREOF BUT ABOVE THELOWER END OF SAID DUST BAG, MEANS FORMING AN ENCLOSURE EXTENDINGLATERALLY FROM THE LOWER PORTION ONLY OF SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID HOUSINGAROUND SAID OPENING, A MOTOR-FAN UNIT MOUNTED IN SAID ENCLOSURE, WALLMEANS FORMING A STORAGE BIN DISPOSED ON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID ONE SIDE OFSAID HOUSING AND ABOVE SAID ENCLOSURE, MEANS FORMING A FILTER HOUSINGEXTENDING VERTICALLY ALONG THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND ALONG ATLEAST A PORTION OF SAID STORAGE BIN, SAID ENCLOSURE COMMUNICATING WITHSAID FILTER HOUSING, AND A REMOVABLE FILTER MEMBER FORMING AN EXTERIORWALL OF SAID FILTER HOUSING.